Today you are going to meet Zdravko Grigorov, a graduate of the Sofia film and theatre academy who has now devoted his life to cinema and travels. Nine years ago he and Angel Hadziyski established the Pozor Association with the mission to present to the Bulgarian audience a bit more alternative movie productions. Thus the Northern Lights Film Festival for Scandinavian and Baltic movies was born, alongside Sofia Biting Dogs for documentaries and Sofia MENAR with movies from the Middles East, North Africa and as of this year – from Central Asia. The travelers’ cinema is an additional accompanying event as the long experience in life has taught Zdravko and Angel that people love travel cinema. Hence for the purposeful presence of the Caravansarai program in the Sofia MENAR Festival where viewers might see rickshaw contests from India alongside the famous yellow Trabants on an expedition from Australia to Bangkok. This week we mark the Day of Bulgarian Cinema which has recently woken up from a long winter sleep of over a decade. We look for the alternative point of view of its state and Zdravko helps us:

"It is good that we make Bulgarian movies. This means new jobs in the sphere and this art needed that. Many of us stepped out of the film academy with no perspective at all. For instance I have graduated film studies, but I haven’t worked as a film critic although I am involved into filmmaking. So, it is good news that there are Bulgarian movies, no matter what exactly. There are good titles, for instance Urok /Lesson/ and Slava /Glory/ of Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva. Bezbog on the other hand received many international awards, so the Bulgarian cinema sees its boost right now."

However, we all know how critical the Bulgarian audience is. Sometimes the length of a movie might push many away. What are the criteria for the selection of the movie programs?

"In the beginning of our initiative we made mistakes. Half of the titles that we included into the festivals were liked by us and a narrow circle of viewers. Now with each next year we shrink those movies in number. Of course they still exist, but the success of the festivals means more films for the broader audience."

We see that it is hard to survive in the moviemaking business. There are challenges around each corner and sometimes those require time, will and ambition to be overcome. Is it difficult to work this here in Bulgaria?

"We find it hard as we use no state support at all. This is our decision which gives us the freedom to select our own things. It all carries a big risk, since a festival might be very successful and the next one might be a failure. It is good when you build up your own audience which loves and seeks what you present. Thus festivals pay for their own existence."

Zdravko and Angel work with all artistic cinemas and cultural centers across Sofia. They look for interesting ways to present the different movies in a different manner. This year there will be thematic screenings at various Sofia bars.

"Watch movies in cinemas whenever you can,’ Zdravko appeals and says, ‘Don’t forget that the feeling is completely different, compared to your PCs…"

English version: Zhivko Stanchev